England Leeds Mission Update

Dear Parents, Bishops, Stake Presidents and Missionary,

 

 

Thank you for the wonderful notes of encouragement and gratitude.  It is an honor to serve with some of the best people we have ever known.  Again, we wish we had time to personally respond to each of you.  Please know that we love and appreciate all of you. 

 

 

Much has happened in the last two days; in fact, during the last two hours. It is an amazingly wonderful time to be a missionary.

 

 

Earlier today, March 26, 2020, the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles sent a letter with the subject: Further Adjustments to Missionary Service.

 

 

The letter described how some terms of service would be shortened. The inspiring words included “where possible, in some areas of the world, missionaries will remain and complete their regular term of service”.

 

 

Elder Brent H. Neilson, executive director of the Missionary Department provided specific detail:

“Decisions regarding which missions this would apply to were left to the Quorum of the Twelve for implementation. These Brethren have determined that missionaries in your mission [England Leeds] will remain in place for now. (emphasis added).  This decision is subject to change, based on future direction from the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles”.

 

 

For now, we will continue to remain sequestered in our flats (apartments) here in England.  It is not easy, yet many are finding this time of preparation and technology-based work to be a powerful new time of service and discipleship.  It is remarkable to see how quickly the elders and sisters adapt. 

 

 

We recognize that it is in our nature to gather our loved ones around us in moments of crisis. Your trust in the Lord and willingness to allow your son or daughter to be far away is a testimony of your faith.

 

 

In the April 1979 general conference, Elder James a Faust gave an address entitled “The Refiner’s Fire”.  https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1979/04/the-refiners-fire?lang=eng 

 

 

He said that he “wished to speak … to all, but especially to those who feel they have had more trials, sorrows, pricks, and thorns than they can bear…”

 

 

Today, his prophetic and calming counsel is powerful and fresh.  Elder Faust spoke of the Martin Willie handcart company. A quote from one of the survivors included these words.

 

 

“‘I have pulled my handcart when I was so weak and weary from illness and lack of food that I could hardly put one foot ahead of the other. I have looked ahead and seen a patch of sand or a hill slope and I have said, I can go only that far and there I must give up, for I cannot pull the load through it.’” He continues: “‘I have gone on to that sand and when I reached it, the cart began pushing me. I have looked back many times to see who was pushing my cart, but my eyes saw no one. I knew then that the angels of God were there.

“‘Was I sorry that I chose to come by handcart? No. Neither then nor any minute of my life since. The price we paid to become acquainted with God was a privilege to pay, and I am thankful that I was privileged to come in the Martin Handcart Company.’” (Relief Society Magazine, Jan. 1948, p. 8.).

 

 

The pressures that many of us are feeling have allowed us to become better acquainted with God. Missionaries serving in the England Leeds Mission have committed themselves to become obedient and cheerful disciples of Christ. As such, we are being blessed with health and protection. We are also being blessed with unique ways to find with faith, teach with testimony, and invite with inspiration.

 

 

We have started to see the blessings associated with self-isolation which began two weeks ago. We have identified these four. Certainly, there are many more.

 

1. Thousands of missionaries are flooding the social media earth with the positive message of the gospel.

2. The Lord has set aside time to create a new generation of gospel scholars.

3. The England Leeds Missionaries are staged and prepared for the spiritual rebirth that will emerge within England.

4. The humble followers of Jesus are cementing their testimonies of the truthfulness of this work and are becoming acquainted with God.

 

 

Elder Ballard captures much of our hope in this article -

https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2020-03-26/coronavirus-covid-19-president-ballard-hope-encouragement-latter-day-saints-178413

 

 

We continue our daily mission broadcasts at 9:30 AM and 9:30 PM.  We pray as a companionships at 10:10 PM.  We work with local wards and branches to support all our missionaries.  Each missionary may send a brief (200 character) text home every night and can communicate to family on Monday and now Thursday during this crisis.  It is probably best not to try to send packages during this time.

 

 

Join us on Sunday as we fast and pray for relief and for a reawakening of faith throughout the world. 

https://www.deseret.com/faith/2020/3/26/21196285/coronavirus-covid-19-russell-m-nelson-pandemic-faith-mormon-lds-church-prayer-fasting

 

 

We love and cherish these moments together,

 

 

Kirk and Sally Green, Leaders

England Leeds Mission